Music typewriter



Oct. 31, 1950 c. E. BRIZ\ENDINE MUSIC TYPEWRITER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 1947 M fiwhmmvroza.

BY HIS ATTY C. E. BRIZEN'DINE MUSIC TYPEWRITER Oct; 31, 1950 Filed Aug. 1, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR.

BY HIS ATTY C. E. BRIZENDINE Oct. 31, 1950 MUSIC TYPEWRITER Filed Aug. 1, 1947 4 SheetsSheet 4 FIG9 FIGS

FIG.

f M-o- IN VEN TOR.

BY HIS ATTY Patented Oct. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSIC TYPEWRITER Carrol E. Brizendine, Burbank, Calif.

Application August 1, 1947, Serial No. 7 65,451

This invention relates to printing or typing machines and more particularly to such a machine employed for impressing musical notes upon a ruled or printed stafi.

It is an object of the invention to provide means in a typewriter or the like whereby musical notes may be printed upon any desired line or space of the stall" without rotation of the platen or corresponding manipulation.

Another purpose-is to provide such a device :wherein musically lined paper may be aligned selectively in, position for impression of notes thereon corresponding either to bass or treble staff Yet another feature is the provision of means adapted automatically to impress such musical characters as incidentals, rests, etc., immediately adjacent .their appurtenant notes rather than uniformly spaced apart as would be the requirement for successive. notes.

A further purpose is to provide a musically lined sheet adapted to be mounted in aligning .individually having. their stems directed up or down as may be required, which series comprise individual notes for impression on successive lines and spaces thruout the musical stafi'.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, the novelty consisting of the 1' features of construction, combination of parts, the unique relations of the members and the relative proportioning, disposition, and operation thereof, all as more completely outlined herein and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, which form part of the present specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in sec- "tion, of a music typewriter embodying the principles of my invention, taken on the line l--l of Figure 2;

. Figure 2 is a top plan view of the keyboard of my typewriter;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the typewriter platen and associated parts;

. Figure 4 is a medial longitudinal sectional view *taken thru the platen along the line 4-4 of F ure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional 16 Claims.

' 2 view taken thru the carriage as seen along the line 5--5 of Figure 3;

'Figure 6 is a top plan viewof one end of the carriage; a

Figure '7 is a top plan view of a detent arm;

Figures 8, 9, l0 and 11 are diagrammatic views of successive type arms of a row, shown contacting the platen when the latter is in each of its three possible positions;

Figure 12 is an. elevational view of the faces of the four type arms of the preceding figures; and

Figure 13 is an elevational view of paper inscribed with a musical staff and bearing aligned sprocket holes along opposite sides for use with my typewriter.

The results obtained by my typewriter construction will first be described for greater clarity by reference to the arrangement and purpose of the keyboard and associated levers (Figures 1 and 2) and the actuating mechanism will then be more specifically referred to.

The illustrated construction of the keyboard is particularly intended for use with 'a platen vor roller arranged to locate aperforated sheet or roll of musical paper (Figure 13) alternately in two positions corresponding to the locations of treble and bass clefs so that upon the operator selecting one positionor the other the keys Will all record on the respective staff for which he has set the paper. In addition, series of keys or typefaces are progressively and uniformly spaced upward from. one end of the series to the other so that they will register on successive lines and spaces of the aligned staff. In otherwords, the two locations are two musical notes apart corresponding to the difference of two positions between the same notes on the two staffs. Thus, for example, if upp er C were struck when the platen "were set for treble staif, the type would record in the third space of the staff, while if the same note was struck when the platen was keyed for the bass staff, the type would record on the second space of the staff, and the adjacent-notes on either side of'the C would record in analogous positions. It will be noted, in addition, that the sequence of keys 'on-the typewriter is identical with that on a piano.

Clef symbols, treble and bass, are provided for typing on the staff to indicate which staff is being used, vand corresponding bar linesare also provided, spacedito span the staif in its alternate positions. In addition to shifts of the platen and its aligned paper to obtain the twoclef positions, the

platen can be manually rotated for the insertion of incidentals at any desired location but otherwise need not be adjusted at all for the width of a page no matter what lines or spaces are typed on. This result is accomplished by providing a series of keys for each line and space of the stafi. The assembl consists of five horizontal series of 21 keys each, individually vertically aligned to strike its corresponding line or space on the stall, and the approximately three octaves or 21 notes thus covering practicall the entire usable range of notes, so that no rotation of the platen is necessary in typing. Successive horizontal rows carry different time values for the same name note, the several series being graduated respectively into whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes. The type face is of course curved to correspond to the curvature of the platen at the point at which it is designed to strike,

Since all but the whole notes are written with stems, and the direction of these stems varie with the position of the note on the staff, each series of. notes less than whole notes is provided in a dual series, one set of notes having thei stems directed down and the other set with their stems directed up. In addition, since it is often necessary to write any of these notes preceded by a sharp, fiat or natural symbol, series of these three symbols are also provided thru the extent of the three octaves, and more particularly, are carried on laterally offset type so as to be disposed immediately adjacent the note to which they pertain rather than separated therefrom by a complete space corresponding to that between consecutive notes. These series of chromatic symbols are also located on the same keys or type arms as the oppositely stemmed notes so that each key or type bar has three positions or type V faces and accordingly three shift levers are provided for thekey board. The other 63 positions not yet accounted for are occupied by a series of rest symbols and other incidentals, including the treble and bass clef symbols. Further, since it is often necessary to write several notes on the same vertical line, the typewriter may be operated either with or without the customary spacing mechanism to separate linearly the successive characters,

It will be noted also that on the third row of keys the upper symbols are either rests or dots and that the latter are provided throughout the whole range of notes, that is, on every other key, so as to fall in the appropriate spaces of the staff between successive lines, while intermediate the dots are located different value rests most of which are repeated for each octave of successive positions of elevation on the staff, the whole rests however, occurring only twice in treble and bass positions respectively, since they are always uniformly centered on the staff.

In the drawings only the variations from conventional typewriter construction necessary to 'iillustrate the peculiar features of my musictypewriter are illustrated. As seen particularly in Figure 1, there is provided the conventional, genroller 22 which is rotatably suspended at short distance above the paper guide 24. The bass and treble bar keys operate by similar lever connections.

The roller assembly, comprising the platen and paper guide, may be located at several vertical positions (indicated in the broken lines) by a transverse rocker arm 26 pivotally mounted on the cross rod 28 and swung to successive elevating positions by a detent arm 30 operated b the shift keys 32, 34, and 38. As previously noted, the DN shift key 34 indicates the lowermost of the three type faces wherein the note stem extends downward. The UP shift key 32 pertains to the intermediate of the three type faces wherein the note stem is directed upward. The SH shift ke 36 positions the uppermost of the three type faces which carry flats, sharps, naturals, rests, and incidentals.

On the left end housin plate 38 of the roller assembly there are mounted a pair of divergent arms 46 and 42 extendin substantially at right angles to each other, having their adjacent ends journalled on a common pivot pin 44, and having their adjacent inner edges connected by a tension spring 46.

The two detent arms 40 and 42 are disposed to embrace jointly between them a peripherally notched, radially extending, indexing plate 48 fixedly mounted on the platen axle 50 so as to be rotatable concurrently with the platen, Circumferential series of three notches each are spaced about the outer periphery of the plate with the terminal lugs or detents of the respective embracing arms 40 or 42 being disposed alternately to seat in the notches but with the lengths of the two arms 40 and 42 so related that both detents cannot seat in the plate at the same time. The space between successive notches of a series is equal to an octave on the staff of music manuscript paper designed for use therewith, while the seating of either detent arm 40 or 42 is arranged to locate the musically lined paper in typing position corresponding respectively to bass or treble clef. The

normal position for either clef corresponds to the center of the three indexing notches, so that, if

desired, the platen can be turned up or down one notch on either detent arm to increase the effective typing range by moving the staff respectively up or down an octave. Such elevation of the typing center on the staff may be desirable, for example, in writing scores for violin, flute or piccolo, which instruments sometimes play above the normal range of the present keyboard. Accordingly it will be seen that the transversely aligned sprockets 52 disposed adjacent opposite edges of the platen are thus keyed to the spacing of the notches on the indexing plate 48.

Also fixedly mounted on the rotating platen axle is a ratchet plate 54 having an outwardly projecting series of teeth corresponding in spacing to the notches of the index plate 48. Rotatably journalled on the axle, 59 adjacent the ratchet plate, is a generally upright arm 56 hearing a pawl 58 disposed in drivingv engagement with the ratchet plate. A horizontal bar 60 is secured to the upper extremity of the upright arm 56; The connecting bar 50 ispivotally attached .on its inner end to a forwardly projecting carriage lever 62 which lever is additionally secured to one end of an upright helical spring 64. Accordingly, manual movement of the lever 62 serves to draw inward the connecting bar 60 so as to cause the pawl 58, by contact with the ratchet plate 54, to move the platen to a corresponding position on the successive stafi of the paper. Upon release of the operating lever, it

returned to its original position by the spring 64 and the pawl accordingly slides back a corresponding number of teeth.

A radially extending locating plate 65 'is disposed adjacent the two detent arms and mounted on the axle so as to be rotatable independently thereof. For a circumferential distance equal to the space between the pair of detents, the locating plate has an outer circumference corresponding to that of the indexing plate 48, while beyond this elevated section, on either side thereof, its,

perimeter corresponds to the depth or bottom of the notches in the indexing plate. The locating plate is manually operated by a radially projecting handle 68 attached thereto, being shown in three successive positions in Figure 5.

When the plate is located in the lower handle position there indicated, it thus allows the lower detent arm 42 to seat in the adjacent indexing in a corresponding notch of a series so as thus to position the staff for bass clef. However when the locating handle 58 is moved tothe intermediate position shown, the plate fifi is then disposed to disengage both detent arms (40 and &2) so that the platen may be freely rotated by itsend knob iii as, for example, when it is desired to insert grace notes and other incidentals.

The perforations 12 in the musically lined paper also serve to hold the'paper securely on tion and operation thereof within the spirit andscope of the subsequently claimed invention which is to be construed broadly and limited only by the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a typewriter and the like, the improvement comprising: a rotatable platen having means adapted to align thereon, paper marked with a musical staif; a series of correspondingly aligned musical type adapted to impress on successive lines and spaces of said staff without rotation thereof; and other series of flats; sharps and naturals respectively, laterally offset from the prior series so as to impress said paper immediately preceding the appurtenant musical notes.

2. In a typewriter and the like, the improvement comprising: a rotatable platen having means adapted to align thereon, paper marked with a musical staff; a series of correspondingly aligned musical type adapted to impress on successive lines and spaces of said staff without rotation thereof; and locating mechanism adapted alternately to locate said engaged paper at typing positions two staff degrees apart so that said type will strike the lined paper in positions corresponding to treble and bass clef respectively.

3. In a tpewriter and the like, the improvement comprising: a rotatable platen having means adapted to. align thereon, paper marked with a musical staff; and a plurality of series of coriii) , ment comprising:

'respondingly aligned musical type, each series being adapted to impress on successive lines and spaces of said staff without rotation thereof, the several series bearing notes of different time values, series of'less than whole notes being dual and bearing notes with stems up and with stems down respectively.

4. In a typewriter and the like, the improvea rotatable platen having means adapted to align thereon, paper marked with a musical staff; a plurality of series of correspondingly aligned musical type, each series being adapted to impress on successive lines and spaces of said staif without rotation thereof, the several series bearing notes of different time values, series of less than whole notes being dual and bearing notes both with stems up and with stems' down respectively; and locating mechanism adapted alternately to locate said engaged paper at typing positions two staff degrees apart so that said type will strike the lined paper in positions corresponding to treble and bass clef respectively.

5. Ina typewriter and the like, the improve ment comprising: a rotatable platen having means adapted to alignthereon, paper marked with a musical staff; aplurality of series of correspondingly aligned musical type, each series being adapted to impress on successive lines and spaces of said staff without rotation thereof, the several series bearing notes of different time values, series of less than whole notes being dual and'bearing notes both with stems'up and with stems down respectively; and other series of flats, sharps and naturals respectively, laterally offset from the prior series so as to impress the paper immediately precedingv the appurtenant musical notes.

6. In a typewriter and the like, the improvement. comprising: a rotatable platen having means adapted to align thereon, paper marked with a musical staff; a plurality of series of, correspondingly aligned musical type, each series being adapted to impress on successive lines and spaces of saidstaff without rotation thereof, the several series bearing notes of diiferent'time values, series of less than whole notes being dual and bearing notes both'with stems up and with stems down, respectively; other individual series of flats, sharps and naturals respectively," laterally offset from the prior series so as to .impress the paper immediately preceding the appurtenant musical notes; and locating mechanism adapted alternately to locate said engaged paper at typing positions two staff degrees apart so that said type will strike. the lined paper in positions correspondingv to treble and base clefrespectively.

'7. In a music typewriter and the like having a rotatable platen and type faces carrying musical notations, the improvement comprising: engaging means disposed adjacent said platen and adapted to align a musically lined sheet thereon; locating means disposed adjacent said platen and adapted to position said aligned sheet selectively for treble and base clef; and other correlated locating means adapted selectively to position said aligned sheet an octave above and below its position set by the first locating means.

8. A music typewriter including: at least one substantially horizontal series of type faces hearing musical notation, said type faces being progressively and uniformly vertically spaced from one end of the series to the other so as to be alignable with successive lines and spaces of a musical scale; a rotatable platen having engaging sprockets adapted to align a musically lined sheet thereon; lever means adapted to impress said type faces individually on said lined sheet;

and locating means adapted to position said aligned sheet selectively for treble and base clef.

9. A music typewriter including: at least one substantially horizontal series of type faces bearing musical notation, said type faces being progressively and uniformly vertically spaced from aligned sheet selectively for treble and base clef,

said locating means comprising a peripherally notched, annular plate, concentrically rotatable with said platen, and a pair of embracing arms adapted alternately to engage one of said notches,

said notches being aligned with the engaging sprockets and lined sheet of said platen and said embracing arms being spaced so as to align said sheet. for treble and base clef respectively upon engagement of the notched plate by one arm or the other.

10. In a typewriter and the like having means for disposing a recording material in alignment for impression with type faces, the improvement comprising: a plurality of series of musical type, each series being adapted to impress on said material in positions corresponding to successive lines and spaces of a musical staff without mov- .ing said material transverse to the direction of said staff, the several series bearing notes of different time values, series of less than whole notes being dual and bearing notes with stems up and .with stems down respectively.

11. In a typewriter and the like having means for disposing a recording material in alignment for impression with type faces, the improvement comprising: a plurality of series of musical type,

each series being adapted to impress on said material in positions corresponding to successive lines and spaces of a musical stalf without moving said material transverse to the. direction of said stair", the several series bearing notes of different time values, series of less than whole notes being dual and bearing notes with stems up and with stems down respectively; and other series of flats, sharps and naturals respectively, laterally offset from the prior series so as to impress said material immediately preceding the appurtenant musical notes.

. 12. In a typewriter and the like having means for disposing a recording material in alignment for impression with type faces, the improvement comprising: a series of musical type adapted to impress on said material in positions corresponding to successive lines and spaces of a musical staif; and other series of flats, sharps and naturals respectively, laterally offset from the prior series so as to impress said material immediately preceding the appurtenant musical notes.

13. The typewriter of claim 1 wherein the series of musical type is connected to operating keys which are arranged in an unbroken sequence corresponding to the sequence of keys on a piano keyboard.

14. The typewriter of claim 2 wherein the series of musical type is connected to operating keys which are arranged in an unbroken sequence corresponding to the sequence of keys on a, piano keyboard.

15. The typewriter of claim 3 wherein each series of musical type is connected to operating keys which are arranged in an unbroken sequence corresponding to the sequence of keys on a piano keyboard.

16. In a typewriter and the like having means for disposing a recording material in alignment for impression with type faces, the improvement comprising: a plurality of series of musical type, each series being adapted to impress on said material in positions corresponding to successive lines and spaces of a musical staff without moving said material transverse to the direction of said staff, the several series bearing notes of different time values, series of less than whole notes being dual and bearing notes with stems up and with stems down respectively, members of each series of type being connected to operating keys which are arranged in an unbroken sequence corresponding to the sequence of keys on a piano keyboard.

CARROL E. BRIZENDINE.

REFERENCES (JITED lhe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,075,496 Robinson Oct. 14, 1913 1,391,788 Orr Sept. 27, 1921 1,439,708 Orr Dec. 26, 1922 2,117,363 Rundstatler May 17, 1938 2,305,231 Avery et al Dec. 15, 1942 2,317,170 Bastow et a1 Apr. 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 252,004. Italy of 1927 636,946 Germany of 1936 

